#Wild Kingdom 4K

[davidclark24]

Unraveling Animal Safari Dusk 4K - Mysteries of the Wild Animal Kingdom

Unraveling Animal Safari Dusk 4K - Mysteries of the Wild Animal Kingdom | Evocative Explorer | Explore the Wild Animal Kingdom 4K - Mysteries of Animal Safari Dusk 4K

Welcome to Evocative Explorer, Experience the breathtaking beauty of the wild in "Unraveling Animal Safari Dusk 4K - Mysteries of the Wild Animal Kingdom" The untamed beauty of the animal kingdom as dusk descends over the safari. In this mesmerizing 4K footage, witness the mysteries of nature unfold before your eyes as creatures both big and small emerge from the shadows. From graceful giraffes grazing on acacia trees to elusive leopards prowling through the tall grass, every moment is a testament to the wonders of the wild. Join us on this immersive safari experience and delve into the heart of the wilderness, where every sighting brings new revelations and every sunset paints the sky with hues of gold and crimson. Prepare to be captivated by the enchanting world of the animal kingdom as we unravel its secrets under the twilight sky.

[movies-tv-more]

Movie Releases for June 11, 2024

[europenne]

"Animals" is a broad term that refers to a wide variety of multicellular organisms belonging to the kingdom Animalia. Animals are characterized by their ability to move, consume organic matter for energy, and lack cell walls. The animal kingdom includes a diverse range of species with various shapes, sizes, and behaviors.

Animals can be classified into different groups based on various characteristics, including their body structure, reproductive methods, and evolutionary relationships. Some major groups of animals include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates (such as insects, arachnids, mollusks, and crustaceans).

Each animal species has unique adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive in their respective environments. Animals play crucial roles in ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and often participating in complex food webs.

[animalkingdomdoc]

Witness the Amazing Bond Between Monkeys as They Groom Each Other.

[links2ndbrain]

Get yo money up not yo funny up😹💰

[larryfanfiction]

Omegaverse AU

Ω Alone and Back Again by LadyLondonderry @londonfoginacup (4k, T)

Harry Styles has very few enemies, and even fewer friends. On the outskirts of the village, past the stream but before the river, sits a small one-room cottage, cool in the summers but draughty in the winters. In that one room cottage sits a cooking pot over a fire, a smaller selection of woodworking tools, and a nest of furs that is the pride and joy of one lonely omega. Or, what does one do when a feral alpha shows up in town ready to be executed?

Ω Just Two Stars Passing By by QuickedWeen @becomeawendybird (5k, E)

Harry blew up on TikTok and became a fashion commentator during the pandemic. Now, all of a sudden, big channels are asking him to cover their red carpets and premieres. Somehow he ends up covering arrival fashion for the 2024 Euros, and somehow Louis Tomlinson already knows his name.

Ω keep feeding my soul, and i’ll fall apart by boyfriendstages @boyfriendstages (5k, E)

Harry realizes he’s gone into heat early in the middle of performing Medicine, and promptly has his Alpha casually cross the world to help him through it.

Ω Necessities of Nesting by haztobegood @haztobegood (5k, G)

“I know this is a sensitive topic and you probably don’t want to talk about your nest with me. But I have a friend that teaches nesting classes. Maybe they could help.” “So you agree: my nest sucks and I’m a shit omega.”

Ω Let the Feeling Last by allwaswell16 @allwaswell16 (5k, T)

Omega Harry thinks the alpha at the grocery store buying a cart full of vegetables must be an amazing chef. He doesn't know that Alpha Louis is feeding all those vegetables to his pet pig.

Ω never just the tip by journeytothepast @suckerforhome (6k, E)

Harry believes alphas can't control themselves. Louis proves him wrong.

Ω Runaway Bride by IceQueenRia (12k+ WIP, E)

Forced into an arranged marriage, Prince Harry flees his kingdom on the morning of his wedding. Parading as a commoner, Harry travels alone, eventually finding himself in an enemy’s kingdom. Suffering an injury while coming to the rescue of some of the kingdom’s orphans, Harry is welcomed into the castle and finds himself face-to-face with Prince Louis himself, praying that he won’t be recognised as a member of royalty.

Ω feed a fever, starve a heart by InsightfulInsomniac @insightfulinsomniac (12k, E)

When Louis turns twenty-one, he receives a call from the National Secondary Gender Services alerting him to prepare for his first rut. Everyone presents two to three days after their twenty-first birthday, and all heats and ruts require medical supervision just in case one thing goes wrong: Rut fever. Most people don’t find their soulmates before they present, especially since soulmate identification can only come through pheromones released after presentation. But if a first rut or heat begins without the person’s soulmate present, so does dangerous rut fever. Louis is certain his first rut will be normal. He hasn’t seen the only person he ever had a crush on in childhood in nearly three years, and besides, they were only ever best friends. Everything will be fine… right?

Ω Lost But Won by 2tiedships2 @2tiedships2 (16k, NR)

When Harry loses his passport after a weekend trip to see Niall, the inconvenience of being stranded in America becomes a little more bearable after meeting Louis. Or a lot more bearable.

Ω The Wilds series by jaerie @jaerie (21k, E)

The creatures that Louis observed every day weren't exactly human, but yet they were. Researchers had plucked some of them from their secluded island and transplanted them into an enclosure against their will like a bunch of zoo animals. Louis didn't think they were. But he was only paid to do the yardwork, he didn't have any say about the wilds that lived there. That was until an unfortunate accident changed his life forever and made one wild in particular his top priority.

Ω Unbonded by jacaranda_bloom @jacaranda-bloom (24k, E)

“Look,” Louis says firmly. “Last time I checked, I’m still the pack leader, so you damn well better listen to me. It was Harry who worked out what I’d been poisoned with, then nursed me back to health. And it was Harry who thwarted the plan for my second assassination attempt by literally throwing himself in front of an arrow intended for me, nearly dying in the process, which is why we’re even having this argument in the first place. So if you think I’m going to set foot outside of this hut until he’s fully healed, you’ve all seriously misread the situation, and even more importantly, you’ve all seriously misread me.” OR the one where Harry is an omega who has been cast out from his pack, Louis is the alpha leader of the pack where Harry finds a new home, Liam is an alpha with heart of gold, and Niall is a cook who can't seem to stop setting himself on fire.

Ω As Fox As Lion by Riczekkraczek (25k+ WIP, M)

“The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.”― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince Harry Styles is a liberal omega in the world where omegas are not treated in the best way. And somehow he get mated with an alpha who is in fact a very conservative minister. So of course such a pair have to make a lot of problems. Problems that have to be solved. But did anyone marked that Harry and Louis hate each other?

[addledmongoose]

Good Omens Fanfic Friday (20 Sep 2024)

Because I finished my first draft of my latest (a Reverse Omens AU), and because two separate bangs are starting to come out this month, I have a really long list of (mostly short) stories to recommend this week. And if you like your GO fanfic smut-free, this is the list for you. Only one of these stories is rated E.

These first three aren't part of any bang.

Tadfield Zoo (40K; Rated E) by @groovynightstrawberry

Human AU. Crowley is the zoo's herpetologist. Aziraphale is the new vet. Crowley needs a plus one for his cousin's wedding, and Anathema has a great idea.

***

There’s no algorithm for the ineffable (12K; Rated T) by @thinkinginscripts

Human AU. A lovely, angst-free short with a lot of wonderful witty dialogue between the Ineffable Husbands.

Aziraphale Fell has been running Heavenly Matches, bespoke dating concierge for queer professionals looking for serious relationships, for over twenty years. His success rate is unsurpassed.

His new client, Mr Crowley, is just lovely - there are plenty of candidates interested in taking him to dinner. But after three dates with three perfect men, Crowley's not even sure what he wants anymore.

***

Flowers From Hell (42K; Rated T) by @entanglednow

I loved this story so much. Set post-notpocalypse, Aziraphale makes an effort to get more involved in Crowley's interests, especially his love of gardening. I don't want to spoil it, but I can say you will absolutely fall in love with Ivy.

***

These shorts are part of the GO Fairy Tale Minibang. There are a lot of stories in this collection, so be sure to check them out if you like fairy tales.

The Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren (9K; Rated G) by @starryfull13

A Scottish tale about a wild red-breasted robin and a wren of the Royal court.

***

A Warrior in a Garden (9.8K; Rated T) by @snarky-synesthete

Set post-scene after Wessex, Aziraphale is a Knight of the Table Round when Crowley shows up to sow discord as Morgana la Fey. This story could have easily fit in the GO world like an extended Wessex minisode.

***

The True(ish) Tale of Hansel and Gretel (4K; Rated G)

Aziraphale arrives in a small town to find several of the village children missing and goes to find the witch responsible, only to stumble upon a lovely, ginger-haired demon he hasn't seen in a few years.

***

The Bounds of Gold (18K; Rated T) by @suavissimapenna

Human AU. Nice twist on the Rumplestilskin story.

All Aziraphale wants is to Illuminate a book commissioned by the royal family, but a gold shortage in the kingdom means he has to use a cursed spell book to spin straw into gold. All Crowley wants is to escape the curse that's bound him to the spell book for centuries. When the royal family finds out about Aziraphale’s new skill, things go to hell in a handbasket. A Rumplestilskin AU.

***

When The Lanterns Are Lit (5.7K; Rated G) by @the-ineffable-dance

Deep in The Wood, pixies Aziraphale and Crowley live a life of carefree delight. But when a doorway into Faerie appears, Aziraphale and Crowley have to work together to help two lost human boys admit the feelings they have for each other... and maybe recognize their own feelings along the way!

***

These stories are part of the Do It With Style Silver Screen bang. There are a lot more stories in the works, so be sure to check it out.

The Bookshop Around the Corner (18K; Rated G) by @luinlothana

It's You've Got Mail in the GO universe. This is NOT a human AU. It's the story of angel who doesn't want to sell books and a demon who is feeling a wee bit guilty about one of his plans coming to fruition.

***

The Crowley Family Values (11K; Rated T) by @ezomind-the-other-one

Human AU. As the name implies, this is a crossover fic with the Addams Family Values. If you don't know the other IP, you might struggle a bit simply because the dark humor can seem odd, but if you do know the Addams Family, you'll find the story fits perfectly with the style of humor.

[fuckyeahfightlock]

New Fandom Classics -- Top Sherlock (TV) fics of 2020

The most popular Sherlock fics (by kudos) on the AO3, completed in 2020

What We Could Be by mottlemoth, (E, 34k) collected Mystrade ficlets

Lullaby by mottlemoth, (E, 21k) Mystrade soulmates AU

(and your very flesh shall be a great poem by CaitlinFairchild came up here but it must have been edited, or updated in 2020 because it is older)

Scars and All by mottlemoth, (E, 6k) Mystrade jealousy

I Thank My Lucky Stars (for Every Crack, Scratch, and Scar) by burnedplaylists (T, 3k) part 2 of a series, johnlock, worried!lestrade

It takes John Watson to save your life. by Sparkypip (T, 111k) part 2 of a series, hurt/comfort series of ficlets of John saving Sherlock's life

Quarantine by wendymarlowe (T, 54k) real-time day-by-day story of Sherlock and John in coronavirus quarantine

I Demand You Speak by Maejones (E, 97k) Sherlolly Abominable Bride AU

A Desperate Indulgence by LollipopCop (M, 35k) John wakes up with amnesia; Sherlock tells him they are married

A Duty of Care by mottlemoth (E, 85k) Greg and Helen Lestrade see sex therapist Mycroft Holmes to address their failing marriage.

All the Wild Summer by mottlemoth (E, 6k) Mystrade age gap AU

This is my Friend, John Watson by SeamsInLine (T, 4k) Sherlock and John are married; Lestrade doesn't notice

Sunday by mottlemoth (E, 19k) collected NSFW Mystrade ficlets

In His Care by BeautifulFiction (T, 21k) John has COVID-19 sick fic

Everything to Me by mottlemoth (T, 1k) Mystrade; kidnapped Greg

Negative Space by standbygo (M, 9k) John takes a drawing class; Sherlock is the model

Safe as Houses by meansgirl (E, 46k) Mystrade in quarantine

On the Fence by BeautifulFiction (T, 14k) casefic, Johnlock, fencing

Old Ghosts by mottlemoth (E, 2k) Mystrade emotional hurt/comfort

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by SilentAuror (E, 54k) post-S4 fix-it, johnlock undercover at an anti-gay conference

An Omega's Kingdom by FemaleINTJ (E, 9k) underage omegaverse

[brokehorrorfan]

UHF will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on July 2 via Shout Factory. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the 1989 comedy stars and is co-written by Weird Al Yankovic.

Frequent Weird Al music video director Jay Levey directs and co-wrote. David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Stanley Brock, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva round out the cast.

UHF has been newly scanned in 4K from the origianl 35mm camera negative with Dolby Vision. Special features are listed below.

Disc 1 - 4K UHD:

Audio commentary by director/co-writer Jay Levey and actor/co-writer Weird Al Yankovic

Disc 2 - Blu-ray:

Audio commentary by director/co-writer Jay Levey and actor/co-writer Weird Al Yankovic

San Diego Comic-Con 2014 retrospective panel

Deleted scenes

Behind-the-scenes footage

"UHF" music video by Weird Al Yankovic

Production stills

Promotional materials

Easter eggs

A lot of TV stations have forgotten what "quality" means. But not Channel 62. They NEVER knew what it meant. "Weird Al" Yankovic is George Newman, a daydreamer who becomes the manager of a small TV station that's losing money as quickly as it's losing viewers. Before long he's programming shows like "Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse," "Wheel Of Fish" and "Raul's Wild Kingdom." But can Channel 62's new popularity save it from sinister forces? To find out… don't touch that dial!

Pre-roder UHF.

[veneritia]

when comes the dawn monthly update { 9.30.23 }

And here's to the revival of WCTD and the first ever WCTD monthly post! But first things first, let's get some basics out of the way

↳ WHAT IS WCTD?

FENICE VI AETIER, a portent of ill omens and the estranged daughter of the Vasilier, ignites a dangerous succession game between her and her half-siblings, where losing means death and winning means an empire. But to compete in this game requires the acknowledgement of the Vasilier himself, one that he isn't willing to give Fenice unless she gives him something in return: the head of the deposed king of Hesperia.

When Comes the Dawn is a new adult fantasy court intrigue novel featuring succession battles, an aro/ace lead, shifting alliances, cut-throat relatives, and a family that's torn themselves apart in the name of ambition for eons. You can find the wip intro here or follow the wip's main tag (#series.wctd)

↳ WHAT IS WCTD MONTHLY?

I've had this wip for a long time but have never made much significant progress before shoving it to the side because of work, school, life, or just being burnt out. WCTD Monthly is my way to try and motivate myself by giving myself a space to talk about all of the different work I've done on this wip. (And to pressure me into actually working on it so I have something to talk about.) You can follow along with my updates with the #wctd-monthy tag

↳ NOW, ONTO THE SHOW

outline → the first 9 chapters have been outlined. outline document is currently at 4k+ words. The main plot beats for Act 1 and Act 2 have been outlined

notion → I rebuild and organized my wip notion, as well as all of the character pages

series → because of the different character arcs and plot beats that I wanted to explore, I decided to officially make WCTD a duology as opposed to a standalone like originally planned. No official title for book two as of yet, though Crowning of the Sun is a tentative one.

worldbuiling → realized that the majority of book 1 takes place in the now subjugated kingdom of Hesperia as opposed to Aetier, where I focused the majority of my worldbuilding. This means that I'm starting to worldbuilding from...almost the ground up. It helps that I'm mostly focused on the province of Isidore.

characters → the vi Aetier family has been expanded! Fenice and Charles now have 3 other half-siblings (Euphemia, Konstantine, and Basil) as well as their siblings' respective mothers. I've added 9 noble houses to form the unofficial oligarchy of influence in Isidore, and I've given Leda a rival-turned-girlfriend-turned-ex to help flesh out her character.

extraneous content → attempted to make the vi Aetier family tree starting from the beginning of the vi Drochona dynasty (I'll probably clean it up and post it separately at a later date). I also added another god to the pantheon (Heleia, goddess of the wild nature, the hunt, liberation, and childhood), and finally re-introduced wctd (linked above)

events → I participated in WTW's character event week! You can find all posts here: protagonist / tropes / representation / antagonists / relationships / traits / wildcard

↳ WHAT'S NEXT?

I'll be using preptober to outline as much as I can for nano! My goal is to finish outlining act 1 and my stretch goal is to reach half-way to act 2

posting 1 or 2 character intros or worldbuilding posts

Find more WCTD content with the series tag #series.wctd and keep an eye out for monthly progress updates with #wctd-monthly

↳ Taglist under the cut (ask to be +/-):

GENERAL → @charlesjosephwrites | @bearunicorn154 I @seasteading| @writting-in-blood | @trapped-inadystopianovel | @inky-duchess | @thats-my-type-writer | @serpentarii | @myhusbandsasemni | @aphaimaniis | @writinglyra | @belialwrites | @amoranza | @pseudepigraphic | @mel-writes-with-her-dragons | @uppoffringar | @fantasydisease | @sourrcandy

WCTD → @zmlorenz | @andiwriteunderthemoon | @ryns-ramblings | @marchdove | @cielnocturnes | @wren-is-writing | @lord-fallen | @tragicbackstoryenjoyer | @bloomingwrites | @kaatiba | @writerjodie | @worldbuildng

[danpuff-ao3]

Fleurmione: A Femslash February Rec List

What better way to celebrate Femslash February than with a rec list?? I've been meaning to do rec lists dedicated to specific ships (that aren't Snarry) and what better place to start than with Fleurmione?

They are probably my favorite femslash ship. The Brain and the Beauty; at least, that's how people see them. Hermione is little more than her ability to regurgitate facts. Fleur is little more than a pretty face. Both are, in reality, much more than that. They are loyal, strong, brave, fierce, and skilled. Two passionate, competent ladies who would make such a great team, and such a great couple. So here are 9 of my favorite Fleurmion fics for you to enjoy!

Death, Birds, and Marriage

by Mushroom_grey_scale. Rated T. 2k. POV Second person. Death. Introspection. Modern AU. Happy ending.

Everyone deals with death in a different way. The loss of a loved one, a pet, or an acquaintance. No matter who you are, it is impossible to live without having met death at least once.

Or four times Hermione has come across dead birds in her path and one time she didn't.

Français

by not_here_leave_a_message. Rated T. 4k. Humor & fluff. Really cute.

Viktor was subtle but straight-forward. He had questions and he asked them and he got to know her that way. And Fleur? Fleur was a mess who aired her woes about her crush to her friends. In French.

...too bad Hermione speaks French. Sshhh!

Cruel Intentions

by Perpetual_Nonsense. Rated E. 207k. Drama & romance.

Fleur Delacour is a seductive, manipulative heiress who gets what she wants when she wants it. Bored with her life, she decides she needs a challenge and sets her sights on Hermione Granger, the golden girl, during the Triwizard Tournament. She plans to take Hermione's virginity by the third task; Hermione has other plans.

What Else is There?

by Perpetual_Nonsense. Rated T. 11k. AU. Fluff & humor.

Queen Apolline and Queen Minerva come up with a scheme to join their kingdoms. The plan is simple. Introduce their daughters and have them spend every summer together until they fall in love. Unfortunately, Fleur and Hermione don't quite agree with that plan.

In the Depths

by Semjaza. Rated E. 4k. Rape/non-con. Horror. Nightmares. Veela lore. Omegaverse-ish.

Hermione's lover goes home for the solstice celebrations and returns... different.

a hero's song, a lover's lament

by soshy. Rated G. 700. 2nd person POV. Ancient Greek AU.

Hermione leaves to fight a war. Fleur lets her go reluctantly.

Naming Conventions

by Sylvesha. Rated M. 7k. Muggle AU. Coffee shops.

Fleur is a barista, Hermione is a new student in the area. They end up discovering they're both into algebra, kissing and black coffee.

Let's hurt tonight (If love is pain)

by Twot. Rated M. 9k. Angst. Soulmates. MCD.

When she was younger, Fleur actively searched for her soulmate. She craved for the one that would make her heart beat wild, but her soul feel calm.Her understanding of how sick the concept of soulmates was started with Gabrielle.

What You Don't Know

by zerozerozero. Rated M. 108k. F-preg. Unplanned pregnancy. Romance.

Everyone has a weird gap in their knowledge. Unfortunately for her, Hermione's coincides with a mistake that could have huge consequences. She's known as the Brightest Witch of Her Age, but there are some things she has just never come across. Try explaining that to an enraged Veela... 

[meechatuck]

More Hector stuff, are you even surprised?

So this is a HectorxReader fic. I’ve had the idea for literally over a year now and have never had the motivation to write it...until I read a ScroogexReader fic. Yes I am on the Netflix Scrooge is a GILF train, no shame. (His VA is dreamboat Luke Evans.)

Anyways, I laugh that this was supposed to be a cutesy fic and not too long. It ended up being a little over 4k words and on the NSFW side (nothing explicit, but very suggestive!). Yet when I try and make something NSFW it turns into cutesy fluff. I see an unfortunate pattern emerging.

So here you are. A HectorxReader fic. Never written one of these before and I think I managed to make it gender neutral. I guess let me know! I would rate it as mature as it’s pretty suggestive and there's sexual tension, and some hot kissing. I do plan on posting this to my AO3 eventually.

Hector x Reader Fic: Measuring Up

4K words

Rated: Mature for suggestive sexual situations, sexual tension, making out.

As one of the head tailor’s children, you are expected to help out with any and all matters of dressing the King & Brotherhood of the Dark Kingdom, even getting the lost measurements of the dubious, but attractive Hector.

____________________________________________________

Your nerves were shot. You couldn’t believe that your father was having you do this, but secretly you had dreamt of this. Since moving to the Dark Kingdom you had wondered what the people here would be like, especially the members of the Brotherhood. They were legendary.

Quirin was a tank of a man. Stout, strong, and, surprisingly, one of the sweetest people you had ever met in your life. His fierceness came out when training with the guards and other Brotherhood members, which was easily seen, but outside of that you had seen him help the locals with their gardens and discuss different planting strategies with the farmers (who knew that was even a thing!). The best was seeing his love for his quirky son Varian. He was a giant softie under that stoic exterior.

Adira. Oh Adira. She was a gorgeous and deadly woman. And she knew it. You couldn’t even count the number of times she had thrown her opponents across the training ring. The only thing that outmatched that woman’s strength was her confidence in herself. Adira could level any opponent, even Quirin and King Edmund, and come out with hardly a scratch on herself.

They were both amazing warriors, but one member of the Brotherhood had caught your eye. And dammit he always seemed to be right there, in the corner of your periphery. And if he wasn’t there, he was in your thoughts. The wild gleam in his green eyes looking right at you. His swaggered gait, surely from years of injuries and fighting.

“Don’t forget to write down the measurements! And don’t lose them!” your father called out as you made your way to the stairs.

“Got it!” you answered, realizing that you were going to his quarters. Hector.

In the last few days, there were preparations being made for a certain Brotherhood ceremony that was a tradition since its creation. Their usual ceremonial outfits had long since degraded into nothing but rags, due to sitting around here in the castle for twenty-five years. Your father was the head tailor for King Edmund, who requested your father to make new outfits. Everything had been straightforward and going smoothly, until it was discovered that Hector’s measurements had been lost.

You had seen your father lose his temper before, but this caused him to have a conniption fit. Luckily, you hadn’t been the one to take the measurements. You knew how and had done it plenty of times, but your father had entrusted it to your older and very single sister, who had no idea where the paper had gone. In the heat of their discussion, you were there in the room, sorting and cutting fabric when he suggested that you get the measurements. At first, you smugly accepted, seeing the furious look on your sister’s face made it all worthwhile. But now, as you ascended the stairs to the floor where Hector’s room was, you suddenly felt ill.

It crossed your mind to go back and see if someone else could do it, but giving your sister that satisfaction was out of the question. You had to do this. Not only to prove that you could be trusted with things like this, but you had been dying to talk to Hector alone for weeks. It wasn’t like he didn’t know who you were, but there hadn’t been many times to have much personal discussions. Or any kind of a discussion other than small talk and fixing clothing. He was gone from the castle a great deal; hunting, training, gathering intel, taking out rogue bandit groups, other things like that. Several times when he came to have something of his patched you would leap up and get to him first. Those conversations were quick, but oh so enjoyable. The only unfortunate thing was that a family member was usually around, so you would keep any flirting to a minimum to avoid being found out and teased.

But this was your golden opportunity. Your shining moment. You would have uninterrupted time alone with him in his quarters.

Your stomach churned uncomfortably and you swallowed down an inkling of heaving. You could do this. It was just flirting. You’d done it before. Whether or not it had been successful was another question, but still! You could do this! It was your one and only shot to show him your professional tailoring skills as well as show him your interest.

Suddenly his door was in front of you. Trying to control your uneven breathing, you adjusted the small bag of supplies in your hands and knocked firmly on the door. The seconds it took to finally open felt like centuries.

The door opened, revealing his piercing green eyes, “Uh you’re the tailor’s kid right?” He tapped the door for a moment in thought, “Y/n?”

“Y-yeah,” you stuttered and bit your bottom lip, trying to keep yourself calm. “I’m here to get your measurements again, they were lost somehow. I apologize if it is an inconvenient time. I can come back tomorrow morning if that suits you better.”

“Nah, now’s fine,” Hector waved, opening the door more. “Come in.” You stepped into his room and he closed the door behind you. “I needa change right?”

You glanced him up and down and nodded, “Yes that would be best. Something more form fitting will allow me to get more accurate measurements.”

“Alright,” he drawled and walked to the other side of the room. “Do ya mind turnin’ ‘round?”

Your quizzical look rapidly changed to embarrassment as he started to tug the tunic he was wearing up and off his body. “My apologies!” You spun around, hoping he hadn’t seen the heat creeping into your cheeks.

After an awkward wait, he told you he was ready. You turned to see him standing in front of his fireplace in a black, form fitted jumpsuit of sorts. All the saliva in your mouth seemed to dry up as you looked him over. You tried to tell yourself it was for tailor purposes, but the way your eyes lingered over his form said otherwise.

“Uh yes, let’s get started!” You stated stepping over to him. The bag you brought was carefully emptied onto the small side table in front of him. You unrolled your tape measure and laid it across the back of your neck and let the ends dangle down by your hips. You placed your small sewing book and a stick of graphite on the table and flipped the book to a blank page. Turning to face him, you took a deep breath preparing yourself. Measuring someone for their clothing was routine for you and you were going to try your damndest to keep it that way. You wouldn’t let your mind get carried away, even though it had in the past in your daydreams.

You started at the neck line, asking him to stand in his normal stance. You closed the space between the two of you, getting close enough to wrap the tape measure around his neck.

“Feels a lil dangerous with ya doin’ that,” he playfully commented. You raised your gaze to his, seeing him looking right at you.

You tried to focus on getting enough air into your lungs so you could reply, “I uh, can see why you’d think that.” A short laugh followed your statement as your brain scrambled for what to say next. “But you don’t have much to worry about with me, I’m only dangerous with scissors.” You felt your face heat at your ridiculous reply.

Hector chuckled and you felt your blush spread to your neck. Trying to recover, you focused on your tape measure, making sure that it was sitting in the right places before tightening it slightly. The dim lighting from the fireplace illuminated him from behind, making the markings on the tape almost impossible to decipher. Moving your face just inches from the tape measure, you could finally read it when you realized your face was also inches from his neck. The gentle rise and fall of his chest seemed to quicken and you swiftly stepped back. “Got it, 13 1/2 inches.”

After the measurement was written down, you moved to the next one: the chest. Hector stood close to the fireplace, close enough that circling around him would cause him to need to move. You knew it was best if he stood still, to ensure the tape stayed level. “I need to measure the chest next,” your words came out a little shakier than you wanted. “I’ll have you hold your arms up a bit so I can get the tape around you.”

Hector obeyed and you reached both arms behind him to exchange the tape between your hands. His woodsy scent filled your nose as you stood close to him. You hesitated to pull back, basking in the warmth that radiated off him. Or was it from the fire? If you encircled your arms you could pull him close in a tight embrace. The thought caused you to stiffen and jerk back, the tape almost slipping from your grip. You thought you saw a smirk play on his lips, but kept your gaze down at your tape measure, the only thing grounding you. Your fingertips brushed his chest. He wasn’t well-muscled like Quirin or Adira, but perfectly toned beneath your light touch. It was one of the things you admired about him. He favored the speed of attack over brute force. A certain memory surfaced, one of him showing off his acrobatic abilities when training some of the recruits. The way he could move his body and flip through the air. That mischievous smirk on his face.

“I ain’t a tailor or nuthin’,” Hector’s drawl pulled you from your thoughts. Your eyes found his hooded-and possibly sultry?-gaze. “But that might be a bit tight there.”

You saw that the tape was indenting into his skin, “Oh, yes. S-sorry.” You loosened it and leveled the tape back out, one of your hands pressing it down as subtly as possible. He swayed forward and your hand was feeling his firm pectoral. The heat in your face and neck traveled down into your gut, making your mind run wild.

“No problem.”

Your brain barely processed the numbers on the tape measure and you recorded them in the book. “Next is your sleeve measurement-” you paused, worried that you were annoying him with your narration of the process. “Sorry, you probably don’t need to hear me explain every detail of what I’m doing to you.”

He leaned in, his face close enough you could see a faint scar near his upper lip. You had never noticed it before. “I don’ mind it.” His eyes flicked to your lips, then back to your eyes. “I don’ mind it at all.”

You swore his eyes seemed to burn with some kind of desire, but your mind asked how that could be. Another part of you worried that you were just imagining it. You managed to squeak out an okay before asking him to turn around. You gently pressed the end of the tape at the middle of his back, between his shoulders, and pulled it to the curve of his shoulder. Your first and second finger held it in place, then pulled the rest of the tape measure down to his wrist. You wrapped your middle finger and thumb around the tape, securing it, as you lifted his arm up to see the number. Mentally noting it, you could have sworn you felt his pulse and that it was at a racing speed. As you wrote down the measurement, you started to wonder if this was a bad idea. You were so distracted and he seemed to be acting strangely. There was no way that he was interested in you like that, you had to be making him uncomfortable. But then why did his eyes look so alluring? Or was that just how his eyes were?

Taking a deep calming breath, you decided to get through this as quickly as possible. For both your sakes.

You breezed through the next few measurements. Waist? Check. Width of the hips? Check. Waist to hips? Check. Thigh, knee, calf, and ankle? Check.

As you wrote the last few down, you realized the next few minutes might be your undoing. Crotch measurements and inseam. You decided, for your own mental sanity, to have him help you with the crotch measurements.

“Please hold this here,” you instructed, holding the end of the tape on his stomach at his waist. You squatted down and exchanged the tape at his knees, nowhere near his crotch. Bringing it up from behind, you brought it up to his waist line. The tape measure fell in the front and Hector managed to snatch it before it hit the ground.

“Ah shit,” Hector mumbled.

“It’s fine,” you offered. “Just put it back at the waistline.”

“Where?”

You held the tape in place on his back and moved to stand at his side. “Right here,” you explained, faintly touching the spot.

“Kay.” His smooth voice suddenly took on an enticing tone. You realized his arm was brushing against your chest. Then, his hand rested over yours. “Like that?” The air was almost sickly warm, humid. You could feel his exhaled breath on your cheek.

“Y-yeah.”

Hector moved, enough that you weren’t touching, but he was still so tantalizingly close. Wading through the fog in your brain, you remembered that you were taking measurements. Your movements were sluggish, getting back behind him to see what number the tape was at. You released the tape measure once you had the number, two could play at this game. As you stepped in front of him, your hand brushed his hip and down below his navel.

“Thanks for the help,” you breathed with a smile and grasped the tape measure. As you slowly turned, you let your hand brush back over his lower abdomen, and recorded the measurement.

Straightening your posture and turning back to face him, you saw he was looking away and covering his mouth. A streak of apprehension went through you. “This is the last measurement, then I can leave.”

“The leg one?”

“Uh yes,” You answered, noticing his averted eyes.

“Kay.”

You proceed carefully, unsure if you had been to forward with the flirtatious touching just moments ago. But if it was too much wouldn’t he say so? Hector was not someone to hold back from speaking his mind. As your knees touched the floor, you glanced at the current inseam of his outfit and bit your lip. It was a very fitted outfit and, of course, it was at your eye level. The tailor part of your brain finally wriggled forward, “Do you have a preference on where your inseam meets?”

Hector took a moment to answer, almost like he was distracted, “What?”

Grimacing, you tried to think of the best way to reword the question. Straightforward was best, but not the most tactful. “Where would you like the crotch of your pants to be? Usually it isn’t as tight as your uh current clothing.”

You were grateful to at least be down below him, so he couldn’t see you blushing furiously. He was quiet for a time, making you worry about this whole encounter and think that your father should have come himself. If this all was completely unwanted, what would Hector say to others about your family and how they raised you?

“I dunno. Whatever ya think would be best. Yer the tailor right?” he finally broke the silence.

“The inseam is usually an inch or so below where it is now,” you explained,then started running the tape measure up his leg. Halfway up, you realized that your hand was practically stroking his leg, but you had to hold enough pressure to keep the tape in place. You felt him shiver at your touch and tried to focus, hoping it was a good expression of his current state.

Looking over the tape to ensure it was properly placed, you mentally noted the number and pulled your hands from him. You let out a small sigh of relief, finally finished with this task that should not have been this difficult. As you moved to stand, your gaze went up to find Hector staring at you, freezing you to that spot. His green irises were hardly visible, his pupils dilated wide with some kind of animalistic lust. It made your insides twist pleasurably. Heat bloomed from deep down, as you realized the debauchery of your current position.

On your knees.

Looking up at him.

Your face at the perfect height that if you were to lean forward…

You didn’t let yourself finish that thought.

You just continued to stare back at him, your gazes locked together. You could see his chest begin to rise and fall faster, his cheeks and the bridge of his nose ruddy in color. A part of you was screaming to break eye contact, telling you this was too much. Then, there was that other part of you, telling you to keep that eye contact and to act out the fantasy you were sure he was thinking of.

A hand gently caressed your cheek, startling you, but not breaking your gaze. Hector’s mouth opened into a crooked smile, showing off his sharp canine. “Ya look good down there.”

Your prudish half won out.

Quickly rolling back onto the balls of your feet, you stood tall and felt dizzy. The blood rushing throughout your body thundered in your ears.. Hector's eyes softened, but you turned around before you could see anything else. You wrote down the measurement that you could barely remember and took several deep breaths.

"O-okay, that should be everything I need," you announced, your back still to him. "I hope I haven't inconvenienced you." Your shaky hands started gathering the things on the small table, placing them into your bag.

"Trust me, ya didn't," Hector's voice was steady and firm. Light footsteps came from behind and you could sense he was standing right behind you. "'Sides, I think ya missed a measurement."

Your nerves were already a mess and that statement made it worse. You knew how distracted you had been, but to be so distracted that he could notice that you missed something? You must look absolutely pathetic to him.

Wrapping your tape measure back around your neck, you turned, facing him, "What did I-" You didn't get a chance to finish.

Several things happened in a short period of time, once you had turned to face him. Hector's face was in a smug smirk, his eyes trained on your tape measure. He grabbed it together in one hand, just below your collarbone, and used it to tug you towards him.

Your lips collided together in a rough and desperate kiss. Before you could process that this was really happening, your mouth acted for you, melding into his. A strong hand gripped your lower back, holding you against his lean form. It wasn't needed, there was nothing that could pull you away from him right now. Your hands made their way up to the sides of his face. One holding his cheek and the other snaking into his hair.

Hector groaned softly, emboldening your tongue to slowly and sensually swipe across his bottom lip. A growl vibrated through his lips and your tongue pulled back, only for his teeth to rake across your upper lip. To your embarrassment, a whimper escaped, causing his bite to lessen and then let go altogether.

Your eyes locked with one another, puffing breathes the only thing between you. Hector looked guarded now, unsure of how to proceed. You helped him decide, pressing your lips back onto his, your tongue searching for his. He gladly let you explore.

The door to his room swung open loudly. A familiar, feminine voice called out, "Okay, I'm done babysitting your children Hec-" Adira stopped mid-word, seeing you two intertwined together. Even the bear cats stopped and stared for a moment, unsure who this new person was.

There was an audible noise when you pulled away from Hector, who acted like Adira walking in wasn't a reason to stop. You looked away, fidgeting with your tape measure, hoping the heat in your face wasn't visible to either of them.

"Perfect timing as always," Hector muttered. “Thanks.”

"Ah, well here are your children back Hector." The teasing lilt in Adira's voice was palpable. "Let me know if you need me to take them on a walk again so can-what was it again? Rest up?"

"Thank you Adira. That'll be all,” he growled.

"Alright! Don't get too worked up now, that's their job," Adira nodded her head in your direction. Before Hector could throw another threat, she let out a quick laugh and closed the door.

"Finally," he grumbled and grasped your face, pulling you into a tender kiss. It only lasted a few moments, before he rested his forehead on yours, kissing the bridge of your nose. “Been wantin’ to do that for awhile now.”

“Really?”

“Course, why’d you think I went to your family to fix my clothes?” Hector asked sincerely, a blush spreading on his cheeks. “Been patchin’ my own clothes since I went to the Great Tree.” Your heart was fluttering in your chest at his confession. He fingered the tape measure around your neck, reminding you why you came here in the first place.

You let out a disappointed groan, "I probably should be going. My father needs these measurements as soon as possible."

"Yer probably right," Hector mumbled, brushing the side of your face. "I'll just have ta have you measure me for more clothes or sumthin'." You gave him a genuine smile and nodded. He cocked a brow at you, "Ya can even measure both my wrists. Together. An above my head." Heat stirred deep inside you at the picture that conjured in your mind. "If ya ever feel like it." Hector added on, kissing your cheek with a smirk.

As he pulled away you caught his lips again, this kiss much less chaste than the last. His hands cupped your face and you felt your tape measure slip from your shoulders. Ignoring it, you kissed for several more minutes, swallowing each other's soft moans and gasps. His hands ran down to your shoulder, then your side, continuing down to your hips where he grasped you roughly.

Hector broke the kiss, resting his cheek on yours, his voice strained, "Ya better go. Don't wanna worry your family."

The thought crossed your mind that your family wasn't actually his main concern. Nonetheless, you knew he was right. If you were gone too long, your father would send your sister to find you. And you really didn't want that.

"You're right," you sighed, wishing you could stay longer. You knelt down to grab your tape measure when something caught your eye. A piece of paper, crumpled into a ball, laying by the fireplace. A part of it was burnt. You grabbed it to toss it into the flames when you caught a glimpse of the familiar handwriting. Standing with the paper in hand, you opened it up and read what was on it. Your amused gaze lifted and met Hector's, his eyes wide.

"This is the paper my sister recorded your measurements on," you stated, playfully tilting your head. "How did it end up there?"

As you watched Hector avert his eyes and rub the back of his neck, something nudged your legs. You looked down to see his bear cats sniffing at you.

"Well…ya know," he stalled, looking all around the room. You soon realized he was trying not to babble.

You crumpled the paper back into a ball and tossed it into the fire. “There’s easier ways to get me alone you know. I’d really prefer the ones that don’t involve almost giving my father a heart attack.”

Hector looked from the fireplace to you and smiled. He pulled you into his arms quietly chuckling, “And where’s the fun in that?” You both came together for one last gentle kiss before leaving, but you’d be back again. And soon.

[myfairstarlight]

For Every Question Why - Chapter 5

AO3 Link. Previous / Next.

Rated: T Chapter length: 4k Chapter summary:

A demon gets a proposal of some sort and takes a few decades before coming around to it.

*all additional notes on ao3.

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Unknown.

Truth be told, God has lost the plot a long time ago now. The Cherubim was only meant to get demoted to Principality after refusing to participate in the War, mind — almost — wiped clean to become the proper soldier She needed them to be. They were never meant to Fall, however. The Seraphim, on the other hand, was the one supposed to Fall… but Aziraphale crossed paths with Lucifer first and everything went away from Her plans as soon as the former Prince of Heaven’s eyes settled upon the mischievous and tactful cherub. She could not understand why, or how and She could not bloody grab the two offending angels in the middle of the War to right things up the way She originally intended.

Besides, She got curious. Terrible thing She is, curious. Free Will hadn’t been invented just yet, only a seed had started to grow within Lucifer, and only him, and yet, two other angels defied Her, albeit unconsciously. She wonders if what She had planned would still happen, just… a bit tweaked because of these two.

To Her greatest entertainment, the Ineffable Plan has become truly ineffable, out of Her reach, out in the wild. The end goal shall remain the same, She surmises, but the journey there? Oh! She is quite eager to witness it all, see when Her gentlest demon and Her brightest angel will finally properly meet under shades of grey.

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Kingdom Of Wessex. 537 AD

Astrophel treads through the damp land, grumbling under his breath. He usually does not resort to extremes, but he truly, deeply hates this place and the fact Hell specifically told him he needed to be a knight for this assignment. The armours are such a pain to walk and move in! Especially when you can't see much.

(Well, the demon does wonder how humans even see with those helmets anyhow, not that it changes a lot for him. He wonders if he should take credit for this in his next report…)

He’d rather indulge in the comfortable dresses the women are currently wearing, all loose tunics and intricate embroidery that feels heavenly under his fingertips but no! He has to foment dissent in damp lands! What a waste of—

“Behold, Dark Knight! For I am Sir Janiel of the Round Table seeking an audience with thee!”

Astrophel groans. “Janiel, dear, really?”

A muffled giggle answers him before he hears the distinct sound of a helmet’s visor getting lifted. When the angel speaks again, it is clearer, “Oh, cheer up starlight.”

“There is hardly anything to be cheery about.”

“I’m personally having fun! Did not know swordfighting was so entertaining!” the angel gushes, in childlike wonder, promptly followed by the sound of his blade slashing through the air.

Astrophel smiles wryly. He supposes it can be entertaining when the battle they fight in has nothing to do with them and the swords cannot permanently kill them. He doesn’t recall what Janiel did during the War, but he reckons, as a Seraphim with a status almost rivalling Archangels, he must have been away from the battlefield most of the time.

“I can hear that,” he says. “So you’re the positive influence I’m supposed to crush.”

“And you’re the evil I’m supposed to thwart, maybe I should have guessed.”

“Perhaps we should have.”

Since there does not seem to be anyone else in their vicinity, Astrophel snaps his fingers, getting rid of the heavy armour around him so he can freely stretch. He hears Janiel take a sharp intake of breath before the angel speaks up again:

“So we're just cancelling each other out, all our efforts for nothing.”

“At least you sounded like you're having fun, I am not,” Astrophel huffs. “Although it has been entertaining to defeat some of King Arthur’s arrogant knights who thought they’d easily get to me because of my blindness.”

“So Sir Leon and Percival’s injuries were your doing.”

Astrophel grins innocently. “I can neither confirm nor deny, they never introduced themselves, just were so convinced they could take down the Dark Knight, the poor dears. I suppose I’ve been doing terrific work around here, after all, not that this is my usual method.”

The demon feels the worry and guilt increase around Janiel’s aura at his words.

“Oh, dear, do not feel bad, I made sure I didn’t induce life-altering injuries.” He may even have healed them, just a bit, he then proceeded to purposely hurt himself so he could heal it back so Hell does not question the miracle. “Nothing your angelic presence cannot soothe.”

“This is the first time our Assignments overlap, don't they?” Janiel points out.

“Well—” Astrophel was ready to argue except he couldn't. Janiel is right, they might have circled each other since the beginning of time, but they never had missions that required them to directly face each other. A part of him wonders how this has not happened sooner, however.

“What if…” The angel’s voice is much closer now, a hand nudging Astrophel’s arm. “What if… we do nothing and report to our sides these assignments as a draw?”

“... Are you suggesting we lie?”

“You say that like it’d be the first time? It wouldn’t necessarily be lying anyway, it’s the truth, we just cancel each other out so what’s the point? See it like a mutual arrangement. It’s not like they’re checking anyway and it means less paperwork for us too.”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“Unreasonable!” Janiel repeats with offence. “How is that different from you asking me to take credit for something you did?”

Astrophel falters. The angel has a point, somewhat. Not completely, though.

“It’s… risky.”

“Any riskier than what we’ve already done?”

“Yes! You’re suggesting we willingly collaborate!”

“Which, again, we’ve already done before.”

“No, before either Heaven and Hell were collaborating or our assignments just happened to be in the same area but did not oppose each other so we’d end up accidentally helping each other. We’ve never been put against each other, they’re obviously expecting something.”

“Accidentally!?” Janiel huffs, apparently deciding to focus on that part of the argument. “Oh, that’s brilliant! When it benefits you it’s all good but I suggest it and suddenly it’s too dangerous!”

“Because what you suggest puts you in danger!” Astrophel argues. “I asked you to take credit for me saving lives I shouldn’t have, that’s of no consequence to you but if they ever hear you’re willingly letting a demon get away with things—”

“That’s assuming they’d ever find out, they never did about the Bet, you know,” Janiel interrupts and the demon wants to scream at his carelessness. “They don’t check, they don’t care, they won’t know if I don’t want them to. You're overthinking this.”

Astrophel sighs. Still so confident, so arrogant, but he would be lying if he said he wasn’t at least a little endeared by Janiel’s stubbornness and faith that everything would turn out alright. It makes him wonder once more, are there truly no consequences for a Seraphim disobeying orders or is Janiel just an expert at getting away? Astrophel got promoted and yet, in exchange with grander power, it feels like Beelzebub and Satan are a more prominent presence breathing down his neck now.

“If you can’t see how truly dangerous what you are proposing is, then I shall keep saying no until you see sense,” Astrophel answers eventually and almost chokes on Janiel’s disappointment and frustration.

“You’re really annoying sometimes.”

“Thank you.” The demon even bows. “Now if you don’t mind, dear, the Dark Knight is expected someplace else. This conversation never happened!”

“Right,” Janiel grunts.

“Right!”

Astrophel hurries away before he feels compelled to stay back because he’s well aware Janiel never easily takes no for an answer just as Astrophel always struggles to not say yes.

But this is too important. They grew too reckless, too comfortable. Heaven and Hell are finally pitting them against each other and Hell is somehow aware of his… closeness to Janiel in some way. Perhaps it’s because he was made a soldier, but Astrophel can’t understand why Janiel cannot see this blatant warning test for what it is.

So if keeping a safe distance, for now, is needed to be sure the angel doesn’t get into trouble and until Janiel gets over that stupid idea of an arrangement the way he did about changing his name, then so be it.

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Constantinople. 547 AD.

While Astrophel is on friendly terms with Death Incarnate, he cannot say the same for Pestilence, which is perhaps peculiar considering how the two are so intricately linked. The demon just has never had to supervise plagues since they were led by Heaven before compared to Death following him almost wherever he goes. The Plagues of Egypt were another rare instance in which Heaven and Hell put their differences at rest to collaborate but Astrophel (or Janiel, for that matter) were not assigned to that particular event, no, Lord Beelzebub had the utmost honour of taking care of that particular request and they were pretty proud of it as well. Pestilence truly rose roughly around the same time, originally a Heaven creation, now a Hellspawn, and their power amplified for the assignment.

So here he now stands, in Constantinople when he should still be in Wessex — following King Arthur’s death, chaos spread across the land as Anglo-Saxons, helped by the demon’s influence, tried to take over now that the leader of the biggest line of defence is gone, and that is without mentioning the rise of witches hidden across the kingdoms, slowly but surely making their mark, to Hell’s delight, but for now Astrophel had to leave all this and trust his knights — and Janiel — to handle the situation for this new assignment was a direct request from Mara.

It should only be a few days, she said, then he can go back to causing trouble in Britannia. He’s not sure why she even needs some help, demons don’t ask for help, demons have too much pride for that, and yet. But oh well, it allows him a change of scenery, away from stuffy armours he traded for ample tunics to survive under the harsh sun of Constantinople. And he has more questions for the other demon anyway.

It turns out, she has some of her own.

“Playing babysitter to Pestilence is a bore,” she says as both demons hover over the city, letting Pestilence do their work. “I get they’re still sorta young so we need to keep a close eye on them but really, they know what they’re doing, they don’t need supervision.”

“Mm. So why request my presence? Pestilence sure does not need two demons over their shoulder. Hopefully, they did not see me or they’d probably take offence and throw a tantrum.”

Mara lets out a long breath. Annoyance pulses darkly around her. “Turns out Heaven finally caught up and is sending more than one angel on Earth like us. One keeps popping up where I’m assigned and she’s a bitch.”

Ever since the Jesus debacle, Hell decided to send other demons to Earth. They would not be permanent agents the way Astrophel is, Mara, for example, is still primarily in the Torture Department but is sent out to the surface for assignments specifically regarding human suffering and once the work is done, she must go back to Hell until the next available mission. Astrophel would serve as a supervisor if needed although very few demons have asked for his help or expertise. Again, demons are prideful things.

He did tell Janiel about that new development somewhere in between Caligula and Pompeii, most probably while very drunk as well.

“Only took them a few centuries to realise,” Astrophel muses, he wonders briefly how he’s never encountered any of them before, though. Judging by Mara's tone, this has been going on for at least a few decades. “If you’re asking for Hellfire—”

“Hah, I wish, can’t start a war too early though, would spoil the fun,” the other demon says, disappointed. “No, I was wondering how you did it— fool an angel into trusting you.”

“Huh?”

“That Seraphim, remember? Lord Beelzebub had requested I survey him. I was so impressed by how tightly you control him to the point he purposely messes up assignments so you have less work to do! And he genuinely thinks he can make you an angel again. I’d laugh at his naivety if I wasn’t baffled you managed that. So what’s the secret?”

Never before has Astrophel wished this hard that he could stop time to his whim like a certain angel so that he can gather his thoughts and be prepared because he has trouble grasping what Mara just dumped on him as if it was nothing. Is that how Hell sees his… acquaintance with Janiel? As if Astrophel is the one leading the march? Is that why he got a promotion? That can't be right, over the years he's specifically followed Janiel's lead, as an excuse to… as an excuse to still do good and, well, because he still worried over the angel whose free spirit should have landed him in hot waters — or rather, fires of a Hellish kind — and yet.

He cools his face into an annoyed expression as he huffs. “You do not want to know, dear, or you end up with a clingy angel who keeps babbling about righteous deeds in your ear.”

The disgust growing inside Mara is so blatant that it takes everything in Astrophel to not grimace at the stench of it.

“Yeah, maybe I’m better off just annoying her until she runs back to Heaven. Well, I called you here for nothing.”

Astrophel hums. Quite the contrary, this has been a productive discussion, just not the one he expected to have.

So. He is aware he probably should not take a fellow demon’s word as the gospel of truth but everything does line up with what he knows — Mara was tasked to spy on Janiel, reported to Beelzebub, Beelzebub told the findings to Satan, shortly after, the whole Jesus thing happened and despite playing right into Heaven’s plan, Astrophel still managed to tempt Judas despite Janiel always hovering near, confirming their suspicion and subsequently promoted Astrophel, believing it the best course of action in this battle against Heaven. After all, if the adversary already lets their guard down, why not take extra precautions on your side and take advantage? It is a basic tactic.

Of course, Hell has no way of knowing Astrophel embellished a lot of his reports, but the conclusions drawn from the facts as presented line up perfectly. But if Hell noticed… It is only a matter of time until Heaven does too. And he doesn’t think Janiel is aware of that if Mara’s observations are to be believed. Seriously, purposely messing up assignments to not inconvenience him? Did the angel think him incapable? Have their assignments overlapped before and Janiel consciously sabotaged himself, Astrophel just was not aware of it until today?

What is that angel thinking?

Astrophel holds in a sigh, he can already hear his angel’s voice in his head squealing with triumph as he makes a decision. It would make it easier to keep an eye on the angel and would reduce the paperwork on both sides. Janiel has always known how to get what he wants from him anyway.

“Janiel is my problem, by the way. Be sure to tell the others if they ever see him not to engage with him and report back to me immediately using my crow. Less paperwork for everyone.”

“Your crow,” Mara repeats. “I thought your animal was an owl?”

“Claimed another bird with the promotion,” he explains. “You got a billion moths.”

“Mm. Fair.” Jealousy and admiration lace her words. “Don’t you worry though, no other demon ever gets close to that loud angel. He smites any demon on sight, except you. You’re his special project.”

“Well, I must make him mine as well, then.”

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Kingdom of Mercia. 584 AD.

Astrophel is enjoying the banquet in honour of King Creoda when she feels the familiar essence of a certain angel slivering to her side, a slender hand finding its place on her waist.

“Lady Aster,” the soft feminine voice purrs in her ear as she feels curls tickling the side of her face. It seems Janiel is already a little tipsy. “Pretty name, starlight.”

“Astrophel can be a mouthful,” she answers, handing over a cup of wine, out of habit. “Fancy meeting you here, Lady Jane.”

She can hear the smile on the other’s face as the angel grabs the offered cup then links their arms together and says, “Mine is less creative I admit. King Creoda mispronounced Janiel and I went along with it.”

“It is better than Bildad, I’ll give you that. Where did that even come from? I never asked.”

Janiel giggles. She giggles. Oh, she truly is drunk. “I may have stolen the identity of one of Job’s friends. He had just left the land at the time. At least here it’s just me, myself and I.”

Astrophel hums and takes a moment to appreciate the proximity, perhaps not very subtly tilting her head so she can get a better whiff of the angel’s sulphur-free scent. It is amusing how much more carefree with affection they both are when they decide to embody a woman’s trait, she’s not sure what to take from it. It is less amusing to realise they also are ignoring their last argument.

Like they are wont to do.

“Mm. New assignment, then?” she asks.

The angel takes a long sip. “Yup,” she confirms, popping that last letter. “Same thing that I did with Arthur, just decided another approach. The battles have calmed down so I figured my blessings would be better used at the castle this time. What about you?”

It sounds almost casual, but there is an edge to her voice, apprehension, and worry.

“I’m off duty, actually, I wanted to talk to you,” Astrophel replies, and Janiel drinks her wine wrong because she splutters and starts coughing. “Are you alright dear?”

The coughing continues for a couple of moments, forcing Astrophel to untangle their arms so she can avoid her wine being spilt.

“Tiptop,” comes the strangled answer when Janiel manages to find a moment of respite. “You want to talk?”

Her tone has turned suspicious, cautious, she probably caught on fast about what the demon wants to talk about. Astrophel also suspects she miracled herself sober.

“Stop time for me once again darling, would you?”

Almost immediately, the chatter all around them ceases, allowing Astrophel to concentrate on Janiel’s shallow breathing.

“I meant to ask, don’t you have to report to Heaven whenever you do that?”

“You're asking now?” Janiel almost laughs. “But no, I don't have to. It isn't exactly a miracle, so it isn't included in those. Call it a Seraphim perk. Anyway, you were saying?”

“About that Arrangement—” She marks a pause at Janiel’s subtle intake of breath, a hopeful thing. “I changed my mind.”

“Really? … What changed?”

I learned you’re being a reckless idiot alone so I might as well join you so if they ever find out they can blame me for being a bad influence, not you. “I reconsidered… You’re right, the extra effort and paperwork feels pointless.” She leans against the table, putting down her cup. “But that means from now on, we tell each other everything.”

“Sure,” Janiel agrees easily, perhaps too easily, even.

Astrophel frowns. “... Just like that?”

“I mean, I was already doing that.”

“You really should worry a bit more about the implications here.”

“Eh, you worry enough for the both of us.” Astrophel could strangle her for that. It is probably meant as a joke but it rings a bit too close to the truth. “If this is about you being a spy during the War, I know, by the way.”

The demon had suspected. “You truly have that much faith that I won't take advantage of this Arrangement to benefit my side?”

“Of course, I trust you.”

That uncomfortable and warm feeling deep within her soul makes an appearance again and Astrophel squirms, crossing her arms below her breasts with a shuddering breath.

“Just like you trust me to not report to Heaven,” the angel continues, her slender hand landing on the demon’s shoulder. Astrophel shivers as the coldness of her rings grazes her skin. “This isn’t about either of our sides, it’s about you, and I, and enjoying our time here on Earth.”

“For as long as it stands,” Astrophel reminds her, despite herself. Their time is limited, before the next War, after all.

Janiel does not say anything in response. Instead, she snaps her fingers and life resumes its course around them. Astrophel straightens up, taking it as her cue that the conversation is over but Janiel’s hand remains on her shoulder, keeping her in place.

“So, what now, starlight?” Before Astrophel can reply with her usual words, Janiel continues, “You’re not going to leave after this agreement, are you?”

“Jani— Jane!”

Her protest falls on deaf ears as Janiel drags her away from the banquet table, away from the crowd. Astrophel finds herself in a garden instead, wherein the angel gently guides her near a pond.

As they sit on the grass, Janiel suddenly decides to lay on her lap, her face chasing the demon's hands until the latter takes the hint and starts carefully braiding her curls. The angel's hair feels, well, heavenly between her damned fingers, silky to the touch with the warmth of Her Grace.

Astrophel smiles despite herself. This is the closest to Heaven she could ever be again, and somehow, she's content with that. Keeping Janiel close and safe is all she needs.

[animalkingdomdoc]

Meet the Sitatunga, also known as the Marshbuck.

[doamarierose-honoka]

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will soon make a splash on home video as the final DC Extended Universe flick looks set to become available on home video in time for the spring.

Per ComicBook.com, T he Lost Kingdom will be available on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K UHD on Mar. 12. An exclusive clip from the home release was included in the report, showing Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Orm Marius (Patrick Wilson) attempting an unlikely escape. The news comes after it was confirmed the Aquaman sequel would make its digital debut earlier than anticipated as the DCEU blockbuster becomes available for streaming on Jan. 23, just over a month after it opened in theaters.

The home video edition of The Lost Kingdom boasts several bonus features, including Atlantean Blood Is Thicker Than Water, exploring the dynamic between Arthur and Orm. Along with the digital release, the home video version also includes a behind-the-scenes documentary with director James Wan exploring how The Lost Kingdom came together, a featurette chronicling the Black Manta (Yahya Abdul Mateen II) and other tidbits about key locations and sequences in the sequel.

The DCEU Ends With Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

The Lost Kingdom marked an up-and-down end to the ill-fated DCEU, following up from the commercially successful Aquaman, which grossed over $1.15 billion worldwide. The Lost Kingdom has earned over $378 million in global ticket sales against a budget of up to $215 million, with the film reportedly needing to make more than $400 million at the box office to break even. Thanks to its overseas appeal, The Lost Kingdom easily surpassed all other DCEU films released in 2023, including Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle. The sequel is closing in on Black Adam, which is next on the DCEU box-office charts at $393 million.

Also featuring Amber Heard, Dolph Lundgren and Nicole Kidman, The Lost Kingdom was panned by critics, receiving a 34% critical rating, though 81% of audience members liked the movie. The likelihood of Aquaman 3 seems low considering fan demand to see the film series has diminished. Wan insisted fan demand had to be high to ensure a potential threequel came to fruition.

The Aquaman franchise is also in jeopardy given the potential of Jason Momoa switching characters in the new DCU. Momoa has long been linked to playing a live-action Lobo in the DCU and has long been a fan of the comic book character, admitting he wants to portray the chainsmoking mercenary.

Bonus Features Revealed

The home video release will contain the following bonus features:

Finding the Lost Kingdom: Go behind the scenes as director James Wan reveals how he and the cast and crew pulled off their biggest endeavor yet, an epic sequel to the largest grossing film in the history of DC.

Aquaman: Worlds Above and Below: When the filmmakers set out to create a sequel that eclipsed the original in scale and scope, they knew they would have to send Arthur and the rest of the cast to all kinds of new wild and wonderful worlds both above and below the sea.

It's a Manta World: Black Manta is more powerful than ever now that he has discovered the Lost Kingdom of Necrus and taken possession of the Black Trident. From inspiration to execution, filmmakers reveal how they leveled Black Manta up to the realm of supervillains.

Necrus, The Lost Black City: Ages ago the great battle for the earth took place here, in this legendary lost Atlantean city. Discover how the filmmakers created the Black City from its "surface city" concept and its inhabitants: Undead Necrusians (Zombies), to its execution.

Escape from the Deserter World: From idea to execution, explore how the filmmakers created this barren desert landscape and the Deserter Prison, how its creatures and inhabitants were brought to life, and how they planned and executed the daring Orm "breakout" sequence.

Brawling at Kingfish's Lair: The Citadel is the last frontier of the ocean, a deep trench filled with sunken old ships, stacked high like a rusty city. From concept to completion, discover Kingfish's Lair, a bar within, where the worst of the worst hang out.

Oh TOPO!: The Tactical Observation and Pursuit Operative Octopus is a living legend and all-time fan favorite. Director James Wan and the filmmakers discuss the decision behind bringing TOPO back to the sequel and its promotion to Arthur's on-screen sidekick.

The Lost Kingdom hits digital on Jan. 23 and will be available via home video on Mar. 12.

Source: ComicBook.com